The word “brand” tends to be a difficult one for independent artists, especially as it pertains to how they present their art. But let’s not forget, it wasn’t so long ago that landing a sync deal on a national commercial or popular movie/TV show would have been considered “selling out”, whereas today it’s widely viewed as fantastic opportunity for up-and-coming artists and writers.
While many TuneCore Artists have removed the stigma associated with building their brand, the process of building and promoting one can still feel like a tough concept. But as the artist-fan landscape evolves, personal brands can help artists build community among their fans, showcase what’s important to them, and ultimately lead to more lucrative opportunities.
Below is a stream of our recent TuneCore Live Session webinar titled “Build & Promote Your Personal Brand”. Moderated by TuneCore Content Editor Kevin Cornell, it features TuneCore Artists Austin Hull and Haley Smalls, and PR-guru/TuneCore Blog contributor Angela Mastrogiacomo:
Some of the topics touched on during the Live Session include:
Figuring Out the “Why”
Artists are encouraged to think about what it is that’s important to them, what they’re good at, what they want to convey to their fans, and why. Simply talking about your music isn’t a ‘brand’.
Getting Over the Stigma
As mentioned above, the word ‘brand’ can feel like a no-no when talking about your art, but as our panelists go on to agree, it’s something you’ll need to get over if you want to promote yourself to the world successfully.
Using Your Personal Brand In Your Pitch
Our artist panelists describe how they convey their personal brand not only to fans, but also to media outlets and playlist curators. Angela shares her experiences helping artists do this as well.
Stepping Into New Verticals – Striking a Balance
Both Haley and Austin have successfully managed multiple brands for themselves on top of music: Austin with his “Make Pop Music” educational platform and visual design work, and Haley with her Fennik clothing line. They discuss how to strike a balance and keep fans interested.
Where to Start?!
Getting started on the road to building your personal brand can feel like an uphill battle. Thankfully all of our panelists were able to weigh in with practical advice for taking those first steps.
We’ll be hosting informative and engaging TuneCore Live Sessions in the future, so be sure to check back for RSVP opportunities.